October 9, 2026Event Recap

Do What Works – The Power of Youth Mentoring

Local/ Child Welfare/ 2026/

More than 300 government, philanthropic, business and nonprofit leaders gathered at the Obama Presidential Center on October 8, 2026 for “The Power of Youth Mentoring: Investing in What Works for Young People and Communities.”

Co-hosted with the evidence-driven nonprofit Youth Guidance, the event celebrated a Chicago success story featured in our new book, Do What Works, and was covered by journalists from NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, WGN and other outlets.

Watch highlights of the event:

Speakers included:

  • Michael Strautmanis
    Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, The Obama Foundation
  • Michele Jolin
    CEO and Co-Founder, Results for America
  • Ambassador Rahm Emanuel
    Former Chicago Mayor & U.S. Ambassador to Japan
  • Lisa Morrison Butler
    Executive Vice President & Chief Impact Officer, Results for America; Former Commissioner, Chicago Department of Family and Support Services
  • Monica Bhatt
    Senior Research Director, University of Chicago Crime Lab and Education Lab
  • A.J. Watson
    Senior Director of National Portfolio, Youth Guidance
  • Arnie Rivera
    Executive Director, Chicago Education Alliance
  • Michelle Adler-Morrison
    Chief Executive Officer, Youth Guidance
  • David Medina
    COO and Co-Founder, Results for America

View the media coverage:

 

For more coverage, view the stories from:

See photos of the event: (Photo Credit: Grey Matter Photography)

The Power of Youth Mentoring

Learn More Book Events Order "Do What Works"